Patient's Bill of Rights

Hutchinson Regional Medical Center Patient's Bill of Rights

The patient has the right to considerate and respectful care given by competent personnel.

The patient has the right to voice concerns about his/her care or safety. Federal law requires hospitals to have a formal grievance procedure. The patient has the right to timely resolution of a concern or complaint without fear of reprisals. The patient also has the right to file a grievance and expect a reasonable response. A concern, problem or complaint may be made to us by calling guest services at 620-513-3866 or the Compliance Hotline at 855-998-9907. If any issue(s) are not resolved to your liking, you may also call the Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) at 1-800-842- 0078, or (if the issue involves your care or safety) The Joint Commission’s Office of Quality Monitoring at 1-800-994- 6610. You can also write to the KDHE at: 1000 SW Jackson, Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612-1365.

The patient has the right to obtain from physicians and direct caregivers complete, current and understandable information concerning diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Except in emergencies when the patient lacks decisionmaking capacity and the need for treatment is urgent, the patient is entitled to the opportunity to discuss and request information related to the specific procedures and/or treatments, the risks involved, the possible length of recuperation, and the medically reasonable alternatives and their accompanying risks and benefits. The patient has the right to know the identity of the physician, nurses and others involved in their care, as well as when those involved are students, residents, or other trainees. You have the right to ask us to promptly notify a family member or representative and personal physician of your admission to the hospital. Patients have the right to know the immediate and long-term financial implications of treatment choices, insofar as they are known.

The patient has the right to assistance in obtaining a consultation with another physician or practitioner at the patient’s request and own expense.

The patient or his/her representative has the right to make informed decisions about the plan of care prior to and during the course of treatment and to refuse a recommended treatment or plan of care to the extent permitted by law and hospital policy, and to be informed of the medical consequences of this action. In case of such refusal, the patient is entitled to other appropriate care and services that the hospital provides or a transfer to another hospital. The hospital should notify patients of any policy that might affect patient choice within the institution.

The patient has the right to have an advance directive (such as a living will, health care proxy or durable power of attorney for health care) concerning treatment or designation of a surrogate decision maker with the expectation that the hospital will honor the intent of that directive to the extent permitted by law and hospital policy. Health care institutions must advise patients of their rights under state law and hospital policy to make informed medical choices, ask patients if they have an advance directive and include that information in patient records. The patient has the right to timely information about hospital policy that may limit its ability to implement fully a legally valid advance directive.

The patient has the right to every consideration of privacy. Case discussion, consultation, examination and treatment should be conducted so as to protect each patient’s privacy.

The patient has the right to receive care in a safe setting and to expect that no form of abuse, neglect or harassment by staff, patients, or visitors will be allowed.

The patient has the right to appropriate assessment of condition and management of pain. The patient also has the right to expect a quick response to reports of pain, and the right to be involved in the development of his/her individualized pain management plan.

The patient has the right to expect that all communications and records pertaining to his/her care will be treated as confidential by the hospital, except in cases such as suspected abuse and public health hazards when reporting as permitted or required by law. The patient has the right to expect that the hospital will emphasize the confidentiality of this information when it releases it to any other parties entitled to review information in these records.

The patient or his/her legally designated representative has the right to review the records pertaining to his/her medical care and have the information explained or interpreted as necessary, except when restricted by law.

The patient has the right to expect that, within its capacity, hospital will make reasonable response to the request of a patient for appropriate and medically indicated care and services. The hospital must provide evaluation, service and/or referral as indicated by the urgency of the case. When medically appropriate and legally permissible, or when a patient has so requested, a patient may be transferred to another facility. The institution to which the patient is to be transferred must first have accepted the patient for transfer. The patient must also have the benefit of complete information and explanation concerning the need for risks, benefits, and alternatives to such a transfer.

The patient has the right to request and receive information regarding any business relationships among the hospital, educational institutions, other health care providers or payers that may influence the patient’s treatment and care.

The patient has the right to consent to or decline to participate in proposed research studies or human experimentation affecting care and treatment or requiring direct patient involvement, and to have those studies fully explained prior to consent. A patient who declines to participate in research or experimentation is entitled to the most effective care that the hospital can otherwise provide.

The patient has the right to expect reasonable continuity of care when appropriate and to be informed by physicians and other caregivers of available and realistic patient care options when hospital care is no longer appropriate.

The patient has the right to be informed of hospital policies and practices that relate to patient care, treatment and responsibilities. The patient has the right to be informed of available resources for resolving disputes, grievances and conflicts, such as ethics committees, patient representatives, the grievance process or other mechanisms available in their institution. The patient has the right to be informed of the hospital’s charges for services, available payment methods and to examine and receive a detailed explanation of his/her bill.

The patient has the right to hospital services without discrimination based upon race, color, religion, sex, national origin or source of payment.

The patient has the right to be free from restraints or seclusion imposed as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation by staff. A restraint can only be used if needed to improve the patient’s well-being and less restrictive intervention has been determined to be ineffective. Restraint or seclusion may only be imposed to ensure the immediate physical safety of the patient, a staff member, or others. It must be discontinued at the earliest possible time.

The patient or the support person has the right, subject to his/her consent to receive visitors, including, but not limited to, a spouse, a domestic partner (including a same-sex domestic partner), another family member, or a friend, and has the right to withdraw or deny such consent at any time. The hospital will not restrict, limit or otherwise deny visitation privileges on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. The hospital will restrict or limit visitation privileges only when visitation would interfere with the care of the patient and/or the care of other patients consistent with the hospital’s overarching goal of advancing the care, safety, and well being of all its patients.

Patient Responsibilities

The partnership nature of health care requires those patients or their families/surrogates*, take part in their care. The effectiveness of care and patient satisfaction with the treatment depends, in part, on the patient fulfilling certain responsibilities. The following are patient responsibilities:

Patients are responsible for providing information about past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters related to health status. To participate effectively in decision-making, patients are encouraged to ask for additional information or explanation about their health status or treatment when they do not fully understand information and instructions.

Patients are also responsible for ensuring that the health care institution has a copy of their written advance directive if they have one.

Patients are responsible for telling their doctors and other caregivers if they expect problems in following prescribed treatment.

Patient should be aware of the hospital’s duty to be reasonably efficient and fair in providing care to other patients and the community. The hospital’s rules and regulations are intended to help the hospital meet this duty. Patients and their families are responsible for making reasonable accommodations to the needs of the hospital, other patients, medical staff, and hospital employees. This includes policies related to smoking, use of alcohol and other drugs and visiting hours.

Patients are responsible for giving necessary information for insurance claims and for working with the hospital to make payment arrangements, when necessary.

A person’s health depends on much more than health care service. Patients are responsible for recognizing the impact of their lifestyle on their personal health.

Conclusion

Hospitals have many functions to perform, including the enhancement of health status, health promotion, and the prevention and treatment of injury and disease; the immediate and ongoing care and rehabilitation of patients; the education of health professionals, patients, and the community; and research. All these activities must be conducted with an overriding concern for the values and dignity of patients.

*A properly designated surrogate can exercise these responsibilities on the patient’s behalf or proxy decision maker if the patient lacks decision-making capacity, e.g., is legally incompetent or a minor.